See Red

From what I'd heard, and I've seen nothing on any sites to back this up, but I'd heard he was a couple of blocks away from someone he'd robbed that was going to testify against him. Again, though, just something I heard.

Well, they didn't get completely ripped apart. T.O. only had three catches against the Broncos. One of 'em, though, he was able to shake off Champ Bailey, one of the best tackling CB's in the League, and go 91 yards with it. Plaxico Burress could do as he wished without being called for Pass Interference against us. Jimmy Smith didn't do anything spectacular. I guess what I would say is that the defense was susceptible to the big play from the better recievers in the league, but over the course of the game, they certainly didn't get ripped apart by 'em. I don't know, we were playing two rookies and towards the latter half of the year they were both injured. They're a year better now, and they were already impressive last season. I think the problem with the defensive against the pass is that they were completely unable to reach the QB when they only rushed four. They didn't really do anything to fix that, though. I don't think the problem was with the Secondary or LB's in coverage. But yeah, I don't think Denver is the best either, but I do believe they're one of the elite. 11-5 and 12-4 is probably realistic to expect probably. I do expect another AFC West Championship. If they can manage to get some home playoff games, they can do some damage since Denver really is one of the biggest Homefield Advantages in sports.

I'll admit that I know nothing about this Mike Bell kid -- literally nothing. But Ron Dayne could definetely have success in this system. He's trimmed down, and as I mentioned before, his success at Wisconsin came in a similar system. He looked good when he got time last year, which admittedly, wasn't often. But if Olandis Gary could do it, it's not insane to think Mike Bell could be good. They went into training camp not expecting him to be a contributor, so there's no harm in giving him a shot, right? If he fails, oh well, we still have the original plans we came in with. Tatum Bell won't be the #1 guy. Shanahan likes him as a guy who can bust a big play when the defense gets worn down. Tatum's blocking isn't good enough, nor is his ability as a reciever out of the backfield. But Walker's a proven good WR, unlike that Paris Warren kid. Not elite, but can you honestly say his best years of production are behind him? As for Rod Smith, if he can be close to what he was last year. Just in the general ballpark -- this group is still better than Lelie/Smith were last year, in my mind. It's a shame that Lelie doesn't realize that you've got to put up the numbers to be a number one option, and not the other way around. No argument here. I was on the Larry Johnson bandwagon before a lot of people. Would've been on it sooner if he hadn't come out of the Big Ten. He'll certainly rush for 2,000 yards at some point in his career, in my opinion. I still think losing Willie Roaf will hurt some. He may have been a shell of him former self, but I can't see whomever replaces him being better. As for the secondary being torched, how much of that was because the 2005 Broncos were very rarely losing in a game and teams were throwing the ball and playing from behind?

Have you checked the track record of Denver RB's before their getting their chance to start? Terrell Davis -- 6th round draft pick, was the sixth string RB heading into training camp Olandis Gary -- ... need I say more? Mike Anderson -- Converted from Fullback Ruben Droughns -- Converted from Fullback Are you actually questioning the Broncos running game? I think they've proven the system works no matter who is back there. Tatum Bell will be a #2 for the reasons you mentioned -- that's expected. He's been listed as such this entire time. If Mike Bell doesn't work, is Ron Dayne really a bad alternative considering he's actually had Pre-Broncos success in a similar system at Wisconsin? They said Rod Smith couldn't repeat his 2004 season. A declined Rod Smith with the addition of Javon Walker, even at 80% is still better than 2005 Rod Smith and Ashley Lelie. Besides, that 80% has been wowing everyone at Broncos minicamp thus far. Besides, the Chiefs also lost one of the best run blocking O-Linemen ever to play the game.

I almost resent the fact that you refer to Denver's defense as 'average'. Their LB's are the best in the league, they have a very good secondary (despite my feelings of Lynch being overrated), and the defensive line is very good at stopping the run. Their only real weakness is the pass rush (from the D-Line), and they've been able to, Pittsburgh game aside, cover that up with good blitz packages. This is a defense that had the Patriots offense befuddled. I would not refer to the 3th best team in terms of points against per game as having an average defense. I don't get where people get the idea that this team is any worse than last year -- they've added Javon Walker -- if Lelie plays for 'em this year, how many teams can trot out WR's like that? Not many -- Lelie may not be the greatest, but he's proven capable of averaging 20 Yards per catch. They'll have another 1,000 yard rusher, possibly two with Tatum Bell, who lead the league in Yards Per Carry last year. At the very worst, they'll split with the Chiefs, with taking both games being far more likely than losing 'em both. Broncos can't win at Arrowhead, sure, but atleast they're close. Chiefs can't even keep it close at Invesco, not even when Plummer throws left-handed from the endzone for a free Chiefs TD.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2542300 The Denver Broncos have made Mike Bell, an undrafted rookie out of Arizona, the #1 RB. Especially impressive considering how high people have been on Ron Dayne, here. Can anybody say Terrell Davis?

Yeah, to play the differences off as something minor or anything like that is completely foolish. For instance, Isiah Thomas runs the Knicks like a fantasy team -- hasn't quite worked.

December 24th in Cleveland for a team that has never performed well in cold weather could be a problem for the Bucs.

Definetely wasn't a strike, though. Whatever! Go Rockies! Go Yorvit Torrealba with the HR that busted the game open!

Sorry if this was mentioned elsewhere, but I didn't see it... On talks involving a deal that would've sent Clemens to the Red Sox... http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=2535859

Sorry I missed it guys. Applebees (restaurant across the street) electricity went out tonight so we (Chilis) got slammed tonight -- so I got out a lot later than I had hoped. I will make a note that nobody on my team is untouchable if I'm made the right offer.

Sick play. I wish I still got NBAtv so I could watch all these games, though I guess I'm glad I have the NFL Network instead.

Neither did Darryl Kile. I like, for the most part, the guys the Rockies have now, though.

Damn it, Loretta.

Tied ballgame.

Brilliant!

Lowell destroyed that ball.

Steelers didn't win the Super Bowl because of Ben Roethlisberger. The guy threw for 123 yards and 2 INT's in the Super Bowl -- so just stop with that nonsense. That won that game despite Ben Roethlisberger with a little help from the stripes. The Steelers could've won that Super Bowl if Eli was their QB. Or hell, any slightly-better-than-average QB. Let's not kid ourselves, he pulled a Manning in that game -- the Steelers just don't rely on him and never have.

Absolutely insane game in Coors Field tonight. Tied at one going into the 9th, the Rockies then gave up 7 runs to the D-Backs in the top half of the inning. They then went on to get runners on second in third in the bottom half before recording their first two outs. After that, the Rockies offense put up 6 runs, but came up short after a strikeout with the tieing run on 2nd and the winning run on first.

Let's hope we don't return the favor here with the bases loaded!

That was amazing, right there. Unfortunately, Fox has me watching the Giants/Dodgers game. Man oh man. Bases loaded -- Thome, Konerko, and Dye up -- and we get out of it? Insane. I happen to remember an instance in which Damon, Renteria, and Papi failed to drive in a run in the same position last year in the ALDS.

And before this goes any farther, I should appologize to you for the fact that we happen to also be Rockies fans who are getting excited about their teams good play and the possibility of the playoffs for just the second time in the franchies history. I'm sorry for inconviencing you by having a seperate thread dedicated to the team and the fact that you're somehow being forced to read it, apparently against your will.

Take that up with the NL Central, then.

Yes it has. They've been doing it for years, I believe. You say they may win the division at .501? Isn't that kind of ignorant considering all but one team in the division is over .500?

They were also 11-4 in Interleague play -- hell, the hottest team in baseball, the A's, came into Denver and got dominated. I think there's a lot of reason to get behind this team considering they weren't expected to compete until next year at the earliest.